Carbonaceous nanoparticles, methods of making same and uses thereof

Abstract

Methods and compositions of carbonaceous nanoparticle fabrication and their use for electrode materials in supercapacitors are provided. The method includes a first step of reacting a first carbon source with a second carbon source in the presence of a nitrogen source in a DC arc furnace to form a composite nanoparticle. The second carbon source includes a dopant. The composite nanoparticle includes a crystalline carbon phase having an amorphous phase comprising dopant or carbide. The method includes a second step of removing the amorphous second layer to form the carbonaceous nanoparticle.

The claimed invention is: 
     
       1. A method of making a carbonaceous nanoparticle, comprising:
 reacting a first carbon source with a second carbon source in the presence of a nitrogen source in a DC arc furnace to form a composite nanoparticle,
 wherein the second carbon source comprises a dopant, 
 wherein the composite nanoparticle comprises a crystalline carbon phase having an amorphous phase comprising dopant or carbide; and 
 
 removing the amorphous phase from the composite nanoparticle by heating at 450° C. in air to form the carbonaceous nanoparticle, 
 wherein the carbonaceous nanoparticle comprises a nano-porous particle having a framework consisting of inter-nested carbon nano-horns and twisted nano-graphite sheets. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first carbon source is selected from graphite and carbon black. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dopant comprises boron. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dopant comprises boron carbide (B 4 C). 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the weight percent of the first carbon source to the second carbon source comprises from about 2:1 to about 20:1. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ratio of the weight percent of the first carbon source to the second carbon source comprises about 9:1.